Balai Pandesal

While I believe in the scripture that says man cannot live on bread alone, I also believe that there are people who cannot last a day without bread. I am guilty as charged. Despite being born and raised in a culture with great appreciation for rice, I am a bread believer – and a firm one at that.

And if we are going to play with this context without disregarding the fact that I am a Filipino after all, I supposed we must focus the highlight on pandesal and the store that sells that awesome bread I was introduced to recently, Balai Pandesal.

Delicious, dense, and downright delightful – these are the things that for me comprise an awesome pandesal. And Balai Pandesal is doing such a great job in delivering that kind of pandesal which I love.

Balai Pandesal, I was informed during my visit through a kindly invite, was built out of the desire to fulfill a dream and create delicious bread well suited for people’s liking. 

From that desire spring forth other wonderful things such as the opportunity to provide jobs for people who are given the chance to continue their studies under Balai Pandesal scholarship. Another one is a collaboration with young artists Dan Cyril Torres of UST and Joy Esteban-Ong of Ateneo who designed Balai Pandesal's packaging and holiday boxes.

I wish I could indulge you with some snippets of stories and remarkable anecdotes as to how Balai Pandesal came to be but that would mean crossing personal boundaries. What I can state here however is that Balai Pandesal is founded not just with great minds, but with good hearts as well.

Supporting them is tantamount to taking part of their great vision that goes beyond earning profit. So let me talk about their breads.

Pandesal, being the main star at Balai Pandesal posses that quality worthy enough to be the reason why one would keep on coming back at this bread store. As mentioned, it is delicious and dense. Not the hallow kind of pandesal we usually encounter. 

There are three sizes available; the regular size pandesal, the pandesalitas, and the smallest one called the bonete pandesal. I got to try the regular size and the pandesalitas and I find it somehow amusing that these two differ in taste. The regular size is best paired with spread while the pandesalitas posses that kind of flavor which can stand on its own - meaning, no need for spread.

There is also the high fiber Wheat Pandesal perfect for those who are keeping their calorie intake at bay.

Aside from pandesal, they also have healthy breads and loaves for sandwiches.

I am pretty much contented with the goodness of pandesal at Balai Pandesal but there are other items which I have tasted and spotted during my visit. Just like the Ube Bread, Hotdog Swirl, Kalihim, and Cinnamon Roll.

There are also Queso de Bola Ensaymada, Classic Ensaymada, and Ham and cheese Bun which I heard is quite impressive. 

Cheese Palo, Baguio Raisin Bread, Pandeciosa, and Mango Bread are also available. The Baguio Raisin Bread I heard is quite popular since the inside is filled with delicious raisins.

I got to try Balai Pandesal's Pizza which I deem quite impressive as it uses high quality ingredients including real mozzarella cheese. A slice is quite hefty that it can be shared by two people. The price for Super Meaty Pizza which I have tried is just Php79 per slice and Php469 for whole. The Hamonado Pizza on the other hand is Php69 per slice and Php409 for whole.

 

There is also the popular Toasted Siopao which is available in two flavors; Asado (Pork Char Siu) and Bola-Bola with Egg (Cantonese Siomai). They also have Hongkong Bun Special for those who wants to try something different.

Spread comes aplenty. Balai Pandesal have their own line of spread such as the Cream Cheese Spread, Herbed Butter Spread, and Truffle Butter Spread which I am dying to try but unfortunately, it was not available during my visit.

There are also Chilles Taho with Caramelized Syrup and the delicious Soy Milk Drink which I find quite addictive in its deliciousness.

Balai Pandesal have aprtnered with several food brands so they have an impressive line of spread like crunchy peanut butter, regular peanut butter, and even salted coo caramel spread. They also partnered with my favorite Spanish Sardines brand, Gustazo to come up with Balai Pandesal's own variants of Spanish Sardines.

In my mind I find several reasons to support Balai Pandesal - from their goal to provide great tasting breads up to their enthusiastic approach to fulfilling their socil responsibility. But looking beyond that, the taste of their pandesal, especially the pandesalitas which I really really love is a good reason enough why I can highly recommend this bread shop.

For more information about Balai Pandesal, you may visit and follow them on Facebook (Balai Pandesal), Instagram (@balaipandesal), and Twitter (@balaipandesal).

Balai Pandesal branches:
* 134 Mindanao Ave., Proj. 8 Quezon City
* 104 D. Tuazon St. Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City
* 95 Commonwealth Ave., East Fairview, Quezon City
* Fairview Terraces, G/F PLG39, Maligaya Drive, Novaliches Quezon City
* 172 C. Raymundo Ave., Brgy. Maybunga, Pasig City
* 454 Barangka Drive, Brgy. Malamig, Mandaluyong ity
* Level 3, Dela Rosa Carpark 2, Dela Rosa St. Makati

Soon to Open
* Shell Station, McKinley Rd. cor EdSA, Brgy, Forbes Park, Makati City
* Metropointe Center, P. Guevarra cor. N.Averilla St. San Juan City